GCN's Reader Survey this year polled federal employees on subjects ranging from product preferences and user trends to broad topics such as seat management, LAN plans and strategies, reverse auctions and online procurement.

Cumulatively, the responses generate a fairly comprehensive picture of the state of information technology in government.

In the all-important area of computer networking, for example, we learned that LAN administrators are focused on the technology horizon and future user demands.

A survey on LAN plans found that video, Web applications and database development are driving network strategies for many systems managers. Videoconferencing looms especially large as administrators map their networks.

Microsoft Windows NT Server was the dominant OS; 67 percent of administrators in the survey said they run NT. About 35 percent of users of all operating systems expected to migrate to Windows 2000 Server within the next two years.

The survey results also projected a 3 percent increase in the use of Unix and, notably, a 10 percent gain for Linux.

On the other hand, the survey foretold declining use of Novell NetWare over the next two years, from 30 percent of the base to 17 percent. About 40 percent of NetWare users who planned to migrate to other operating systems expected to move to either Windows NT or Win 2000 Server.

In a survey on trends in IT procurement, operating systems were high on the shopping lists of federal procurement managers; 57 percent said they plan to buy OSes in the next year. Office suites headed the lists of 63 percent of buyers we talked with.

The survey also found that 34 percent of buyers spend at least $1 million annually on IT needs. Nearly a quarter of buyers spend $100,000 to $499,000 on IT needs. Another 14 percent spend up to $999,999 a year.

As for procurement vehicles, the survey showed the extent to which buyers are going to the Web for purchases'56 percent said they buy computer products online. The open market (55 percent) and GSA Schedule (50 percent) also were popular methods.

A survey on online buying trends revealed that buyers like the convenience, speedy transactions and ease of using the Web for purchases. But they also voiced concerns about security and poorly designed sites.

The General Services Administration's GSA Advantage was the most popular site, being used regularly by 28 percent of buyers in the survey. Most buyers, 81 percent, also use commercial sites.

A survey on seat management'handing over desktop ownership and management to a contractor, with charges based on a per-seat formula'proved to be surprising. More than a quarter of feds in the sample'26 percent'said they weren't sure what seat management is or how it works.

Of those familiar with seat management, 69 percent said their agencies weren't likely to adopt it, and 23 percent indicated that it was 'somewhat likely' that their agencies would go for it.

They expressed anxieties about seat. Some speculated that it would be too costly; others worried about contract issues and a lack of flexibility.

In the server poll, users gave servers from Gateway Inc. the top rating over those from Hewlett-Packard Co., Compaq Computer Corp. and Dell Computer Corp. Dell held the highest portion of the base at 28 percent, followed by Compaq (20 percent), Hewlett-Packard (15 percent) and Gateway (9 percent).

Notebook PC users rated Dell machines higher in quality than those from Gateway, Toshiba America Information Systems Inc. and IBM Corp. Dell also captured the largest share of the survey sample with 31 percent.

Dual users'those who use both a notebook and a PC'expected to increase their notebook usage to more than a third of their computing time over the next one to three years.

Almost all remote users in the survey'98 percent'use wired modems, but 41 percent expected to connect wirelessly in the next few years.

The handheld survey revealed the dominance of products from Palm Inc. of Santa Clara, Calif. Palm held 68 percent of the sample, led by the Palm V (44 percent) and Palm III (26 percent).

Feds enjoy convenience, speed of transactions and ease of use of online buying; GSA Advantage is favorite site; security is biggest concern; users chide poor site design, difficulty of navigation and slowness of some sites.

July 10

Seat management

Many feds are either unfamiliar with or wary of the seat management approach to PC outsourcing; 69% said it was unlikely that their agencies would ever adopt it; cost, contract complexity and loss of control of systems head feds' list of concerns.

Aug. 7

Reverse auctions

70% in survey expressed lack of knowledge about how reverse auctions work; of those familiar with the practice, 60% saw at least some potential for it as a buying method for their agencies.

Users expect to step up notebook use in next 36 months; 82% in survey use notebooks for travel; 18% as a replacement for their desktop PCs; 83% use notebooks for remote access; 99% retrieve e-mail; 69% access the Internet; 98% use a wired modem for remote access.

Oct. 2

Handheld computers

68% of handheld users have devices from Palm Inc.; PalmV is most widely used; 16% use HP handhelds; all handheld users in survey wished for clearer, brighter screens, color displays and more memory; convenience is most important attribute.

Oct. 23

Handheld computer use and trends

82% in survey synchronize data with their PCs; 24% use their handhelds to access data from remote locations; 92% of those retrieve e-mail and 92% use a wired modem to connect; Palm OS is preferred operating system.